Lamp device



Aug. 10, 1948- H. A; M' lLVAlNE LAMP DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 13, 1942 H. A. M ILVAINE LAMP DEVICE Aug. 10, 1948.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 13, 1942 all VEREO Patented Aug. 10, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAMP DEVICE Hubert A. McIlvaine,. Geneva, 11L, assignor to Continental Electric Company, Geneva, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 13, 1942, Serial No. 438,806

4 Claims. (Cl. 176-122) 1 This invention relates to an improvement in lamp devices of the character used particularly for lighting or heating effects, as may be used for various purposes, including illumination, cooking, baking or other purposes.

It has been the practice heretofore to construct lamp devices, either of gas discharge or incandescent, with a substantial portion thereof of metal, and where glass bulbs have been used, these have not been of the character which would afford sufiicient area of illumination or heating effect, or are otherwise objectionable by reason of being blown or formed of one piece.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction of such lamp devices, to produce distinctive heating and lighting effects therewith, and yet provide for the practical construction of such devices substantially entirely of glass or other suitable material. This effects a substantial saving of metal, and yet material improvements and results are obtained.

Where the body of the deviceis molded or otherrial with grooves therein of spiral or other form,

it is entirely practical to form such devices to obtain extended gas discharge areas, by the practical closing of such spiral or other grooves with a covering plate also of glass or like material placed thereover and sealed only at its peripheral edges to the grooved body, the space between the inner portions of said grooved body and the inner face of the plate being slightly spaced therefrom sufficiently to prevent escape of the gas discharge from one portion of the groove to another and thus compel travel of the discharge throughout the groove.

I have shown the invention in different embodiments in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a lamp device formed of a spirally grooved body with electrodes at the center thereof;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the grooved Y;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through a grooved body having a. solid center portion with outside electrodes;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Fig. 5 is a verticalsectional view through a receptacle having a spirally grooved heating portion;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of a toaster structure embodying this invention;

Fig. 7 is a cross section through an arcuate lamp device;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the body thereof;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of toaster elements of the filament type; and

Fig. 10 is a bottom perspective view of an ironing device, embodying this invention.

Referring to the different forms of the invention generally, these comprise a body portion which is either grooved or hollow, but has the open side thereof closed by a substantially fiat disc or plate preferably of uniform thickness. The said body and cover plate are preferably made of glass or other suitable vitreous or ceramic material, such as that commercially known as Pyrex, as described in Sullivan et al. Patent No. 1,304,623, granted May 27, 1919. In some instances, however, as hereinafter explained, the cover plate or disc may be constructed of similar glass material, which will nevertheless permit the passage of infra-red radiation therethrough, or ultra-violet light, which may be that known commercially as Corex. Where the lamp is used for heating purposes, it may be preferable to form the body and cover plate of ceramic material instead of glass, such as quartz, sillimanite, glazed or unglazed, or any desired combination of said materials. 7

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the body of the lamp device is designated generally by the numeral, I, and is shown as formed with double spiral grooves 2 in the under face thereof, provided by molding, grooving, or otherwise forming the same, the outer ends of which double spiral grooves are joined together at 3, while the inner ends of the respective spirals are closed at the center, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower sides of the grooves 2 are closed by a cover plate or sheet 4', which extends over the entire bottom surface of the grooved body I. The plate I is formed preferably of uniform thickness throughout its area, and the body I is likewise preferably formed of uniform thickness, or has a flat bottom surface, except for the grooves or hollowing out, that is adapted to have the plate or sheet 4 fit flush thereagainst.

The relation of these parts is somewhat exagaerated n the sectional views for clearness of a-uavm illustration. They are sealed together at their outer peripheral edges, as indicated at 5 in Fig. 1, by means of a pin point flame from a burner which acts radially against the joint therebetween at their peripheries. At the same time, the inner portions of the body I and plate 4 are not sealed, but are arranged so close together that the gas discharge will not jump from one portion of the groove to another. Such spaced portions, as somewhat exaggerated in the drawings, are indicated at B in Fig. 1.

The spacing of these portions may be less than the mean free path of the gas, or so small that the gas discharge will be extinguished due to the excessive recombination of ions and electrons on the walls and the reducedproductlon of such carriers of the discharge within the volume under operating conditions.

In this form of the invention, a pair of electrodes I are located at the closed ends of the double spiral grooves 2, connected in the usual way with a source of electrical energy, such as by a cable 8.

The hollow portion of the body is preferably fllled throughout with a suitable gas or vapor, such as argon, neon, or the like, particularly for illumination in a lighting device, or mercury vapor may be used therein, particularly for heating efiects. The gas may be combined, as argon for starting the arc, with mercury vapor becoming effective thereafter. Where lighting effects are desired, any of the usual fluorescent powders may be used in the grooves or hollow portions of the body, the fluorescent material forming a coating along the sides of the grooves or hollow portion. As will be obvious also, the inner upper surface of the grooves or hollow portion of the body may be coated by silvering or with other reflectin means to obtain suitable reflection therefrom. Where heating effect is desired, the reflecting coating is preferably applied to the outer surface of the body.

Upon energizing of the electrodes l, gas discharge will take place throughout the length of the double spiral grooves 2, in the usual manner, producing a novel and unusual light effect, depending upon the fluorescent material used as well as any reflecting substance that may be applied thereto, substantially the entire device being constructed of glass having properties suitable for the purpose. Where the lamp device is used for lighting effect, soft glass may be used for the body, as. well as for the covering plate, while these should be formed of hard glass or other material in the event that it is used for heating effect, to withstand the high temperature thereof. Where mercury vapor is used in the lamp and it is desired to utilize the ultra violet light effect thereof, the bottom plate at least is preferably formed of Corex to permit the passage of ultra violet light therethrough.

In the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the body la and cover plate 4a are constructed substantially as described above in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, the body being grooved with a double spiral groove 20:, which is nevertheless closed at the outer periphery of the body la, giherf' the electrodes Ia are located, as shown in Another form of the invention is shown in Fig. 5, in which the body lb is shown as constructed substantially of 'cup shape to be used as a cooking receptacle and is provided with a spiral space-discharge groove 2b in the bottom thereof closed by a cover plate 41) constructed in the manner described above in connection with Fig. 1. In this event, the body lb may be formed of Corex glass, and by using a mercury vapor discharge within the groove, the material cooked within the receptacle may be subjected to ultra violet light rays.

In Fig. 6, the invention. is shown as applied to another type of heating device, such as may be used for the toasting of bread or for like purposes. In this event, the device comprises a pair of opposed heating units arranged in faceto-face relation each comprising a body lc, having a face plate 40 applied thereto. These parts lo and 10 are preferably of glass or other suit-- able vitreous or ceramic material oLthe character described above in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. The body I0 is formed with a spiral groove 2c therein, having electrodes in the closed ends thereof with electrical connections at therefor. Each of the bodies or sides of the toaster device is supported on a base l0. It will be evident that the glass used in the formation of a heating device of this character, which must withstand high temperature, should be of the character known as hard glass. Where the cover plates 40 are of Corex and mercury vapor, or other gas, used in the double spiral grooves 2c of the heating units, the ultra-violet light therefrom will be transmitted to the bread or other food product disposed between the heating elements.

Figs. '7 and 8 show the invention applied to a lighting fixture, of the character used for fluorescent lighting. This form comprises a body id, having a groove 2d therein which is shown in Fig. 8, as being of zigzag shape rather than spiral and having electrodes id in opposite ends thereof. A cover platetd closes the open side of the groove 2d, being sealed to the body id at the edges of the latter in the manner described above in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. The intermediate portions of the body have the face thereof spaced from the plate 4d less than the mean free path length of the gas or sufficiently close that the gas discharge will be extinguished, as described above. In this form, the unit is curved transversely and may be used for lighting, especially when fluorescent powder is applied in the zigzag groove 2d, producing the desired lighting effect. In this event, the upp r surface of the unit is preferably covered with a suitable reflecting material such as may be applied thereto by silvering said upper surface for downward concentration of the light.

Fig. 9 represents another form of toaster or other heating device comprising a pair of opposed heating elements, which are nevertheless shown as being heated by incandescent wires rather than by gas-discharge. Each of the heating elements comprises a body ie, the interior of which is hollowed out and receives therein an incandescent wire l2, suitably supported in the hollow portion of the body ie. This hollow portion of the body le is closed by a cover plate 4e. sealed at its periphery to the peripheral portion of the body le.

These parts ie and le are preferably constructed of glass or other suitable material of the character described above in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, such as Pyrex, Corex, or the like. The outer surface of the body ie should be silvered for concentration of the heat and concealing of the'light. The coil I2 is preferably constructed of tungsten which is readily available. In addition to the incandescent filament, the hollow body IE may be provided with a gaseous atmosphere, and with gas discharge by electrodes therein, which arc produces radiations of ultraviolet light, or infra-red, which may be readily transmitted through a Corex plate to the material disposed between the heating elements.

In Fig. is shown still another application of this invention to an ironing device for the smoothing of clothes, having a body 2|, the interior of which'is preferably hollow and closed at its open side by a cover plate 24 which is sealed thereto at the periphery only thereof, as described above. These parts are likewis constructed of Pyrex or Corex glass, and the interior of the body has mounted therein an incandescent coil", preferably of tungsten.

The hollow body may be sealed and evacuated or filled with a suitable gas such as hydrogen, so that the heat from the tungsten coil will provide the necessary heating effect for the smoothing of the clothes when said coil is energized by an electric current. However, the evacuated chamber in the body 2| may be provided with an arc discharge in suitable gas, such as mercury vapor, or by hot filament, to produce ultra-violet light which passes readily through a Corex plate for bleaching the clothes simultaneously with the smoothing thereof.

This provides also for an improving smoothing action, inasmuch as the clothes are subjected not only to the conduction of heat through the glass, but also to infra-red radiation through the glass that passes deeply into the cloth, resulting in more immediate and complete smoothing and drying action on the clothes during the ironing thereof. The upper surface of the body 2| of the smoothing iron, should be silvered, or otherwise provided with a reflecting surface for the downward concentration of the heat.

It will be clear from the foregoing that the use of glass for the body of the heating or lighting unit used in the lamp device effects a material saving of metal heretofore required in such devices, and at the same time a practical lamp device is produced thereby, which also provides material advantages in the lighting or heating effects thereof. Glass or other suitable material of the character described may be used not only for the body of the lamp device but also for the cover plate thereof, which may be practically sealed to the body about the periphery of said body and plate, permitting evacuation of the chamber or groove therein, and the effective filling thereof where desired with suitable gas or vapor for gas discharge.

When a groove or channel is formed in the body, the sides thereof are effectively closed by being located so close to the inner face of the cover plate that the gas discharge will be extinw shed due to the excessive recombination of ions and electrons on the wall and the reduced production of such carriers of the discharge within the volum under operating conditions, although not sealed thereto because it is impractical to attempt an actual sealing of said edges. Such a passage or channel may be provided also in incandescent devices of the character shown in Figs. 9 and 10 when gaseous atmospheres are provided therein for gas discharge, in addition to the incandescent elements, as described.

In any such instances, where used for lighting effect, this may be enhanced by the use of fluorescent powder in the chamber or channel of the device, and the gas used may be varied according to the requirements of the device. It is also 6 possible to use soft glass when the device is used for lighting effect which does not require the high temperatures that are present in heating devices. It is also evident that the gas discharge spiral grooves in this lamp device may be separated with one or more gas plates and used for oscillation feed-back in a radio receiving set, in a manner similar to two pancake wire coils. Furthermore, two such pancake spirals might be used as a grid control tube to control the arc.

I claim:

1. A lamp device comprising a body having a double spiral groove therein containing a gaseous or vapor atmosphere, the sides of which are closed at one end and in communication at the opposite end, said groove being disposed at one face of the body and having a plurality of walls intermediate the Opposite sides thereof, a cover plate fitted over said face of the body covering the groove therein with the peripheral edges of said cover plate sealed to the peripheral edges of the body, said cover plate having the intermediate portions thereof spaced from the edges of said walls less than the mean free path of the gas, and electrodes in the closed ends of the grooves for gas-discharge therethrough, said body and cover plate being constructed of glass.

2. A lamp device comprising a body having a side face, said body having a gas passage formed in said face and adapted to contain a gas discharge and with opposite ends of said passage spaced inwardly from the periphery of the body with a continuous peripheral face portion on said body, and a cover plate extending over said face of the body and over the gas passage therein and directly abutting against said continuous peripheral portion of the body, said cover plate having the peripheral edge only thereof sealed to said body, said body having the intermediate face portion thereof spaced from said plate less than the mean free path of the gas, said gas assage including parallel spiral grooves in said body face extending throughout the major portion thereof and joined in open communication at one end only thereof, and means in the opposite closed ends of said grooves for causing space discharge in said passage.

3. A lamp device comprising a body having a side face, said body having a gas passage formed in said face and adapted to contain a gas discharge and with opposite ends of said passage spaced inwardly from the periphery of the body with a continuous peripheral face portion on said body, and a cover plate extending over said face of the body and over the gas passage therein and sealed to said body, said gas passage including parallel spiral grooves in said body face extending throughout the major portion thereof and joined in open communication at one end only thereof, and means in the opposite closed ends of said grooves for causing space discharge in said passage.

4. A lamp device comprising a body having a side face, said body having a gas passage formed in said face and adapted to contain a gas discharge and with opposite ends of said passage spaced inwardly from the periphery of the body with a continuous peripheral face portion on said body, and a cover plate extending over said face of the body and over the gas passage therein and sealed to the body, said gas passage including a groove in the body face and extending continuously back and forth therein throughout the major portion of said face, said groove being spaced wholly inwardly from the periphery of the body,

and means for causing space discharge in said Number Name Date groove. 1,867,154 Hotchner July 12, 1932 HUBERT A. MGILVAINE. 1,949,963 Hotchner Mar. 6, 1934 2,008,782 Brady July 28, 1935 REFERENCES CITED 5 2,158,968 Moflat May 16, 1939 The following rferences are of record in the 2,135,674 Michel 1940 m of t patent: ,431 Marden et a1 Sept. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENT-B Number Name Date 1. Number Country Date 714,233 Plancon Nov. 25, 1902 325-592 Great Britain 1930 1,858,497 Hall May 17, 1933 

